BBusSc Specialising in Finance, Investment and Banking

The Bachelor of Business Science specialising in Finance, Investment and Banking degree is primarily designed for students who wish to get a firm grounding in the disciplines of finance and economics. These two disciplines are strongly related and make for a powerful combination in many parts of the financial industry and some features of government and development organisations. 

Finance is concerned with the sourcing, allocation and investment of funds. It is both a science (based on rigorous theory and quantitative models) and art (requires judgment and insights into human behaviour). Thus, it is a highly diverse discipline, which overlaps with accounting, economics, mathematics, politics, psychology, strategy, statistics and many other fields. Good financial skills and professionals are fundamental to the growth and success of any organisation and country.

The other option at UCT for obtaining a combined degree in finance and economics is the BCom Economics and Finance. Although both degrees include economics up to the third year, the BCom option takes finance to the third-year level. In contrast, the BBusSc Finance, Investment and Banking takes it up to the fourth-year level. As a result, the latter is an honours-level degree. Further, because it is a four-year programme, this degree also includes elements of a range of other disciplines, such as human resources, statistics, marketing etc. This degree opens up career options in the financial sector and investment industries. Graduates are employed as investment managers, fund managers, investment analysts, corporate treasurer, financial risk specialists, and credit analysts.

Because of (mainly) its finance content, this degree is an affiliate degree of the US-based CFA Institute. The CFA organisation offers the international Chartered Financial Analyst professional qualification for investment and financial professionals. The curriculum also covers a large proportion of the curriculum for at least the first level of the CFA exams. 

Similarly, the BBusSc Finance, Investment and Banking is also an affiliate degree of the CAIA Institute because of its alternative investment content. This US-based international organisation offers the CAIA Charter, the global professional qualification for alternative investment professionals.